It feels like everyone Avery has ever known is staring up at her intently.

She can feel sweat building up on the back of her neck, and she tugs gently at the silk scarf hanging around her neck as she glances up at Roman.

"You're probably wondering why we called this pack meeting," Roman begins, and looks down at Avery.

He raises an eyebrow at her.

Are you going to continue, or do I have to keep talking?, he asks urgently, and Avery has to hold back a smile.

She likes knowing that he's just as nervous as she is, because he doesn't usually express much emotion, especially in front of either of their packs.

Both packs together?

Forget it.

I might faint if I try to talk, she responds, and she isn't lying.

Sonya has gone radio silent out of absolute fear, and Avery herself feels ridiculously light-headed.

You can face down packs of rogues and vampires, but a speech makes you crap yourself? Really?, Avery grumbles to a slightly miffed Sonya.

Those rogues aren't expecting me to make a speech about pack laws or a peace alliance. They want to kill me, so I return the favour, Sonya growls back, pacing.

Avery straightens her back, grounding herself.

Roman has his palm splayed across her lower back, and that contact is helping to relax her.

Sonya isn't done, though.

You couldn't have chosen a colder day, could you? We are in a sleeveless dress, and may I just say, if it weren't for me, you would be positively hypothermic. This is ridiculous, hurry up and make the announcement before I freeze to death, for the Goddesses sake, she hisses.

Avery grimaces and closes her eyes for a moment, focusing on steadying her breathing and trying to act like there aren't thousands of eyes staring at her.

She knows that this is being broadcasted across their packs, too, so in reality, it's probably a lot more than a few thousand watching it.

The children in schools are taking a break to watch the announcement, and all pack businesses that aren't essential have been suspended for the day.

Nobody could figure out why, and they did try to guess.

Apparently, according to Hayden and Byron, some of the warriors have a betting pool.

She can almost guarantee this wasn't a possibility in their little pool, because it wasn't a possibility in her mind nine months ago.

Avery clears her throat, shaking her hair back from her face and clasping her hands for a second to try and warm them up.

"There have been numerous questions raised about the future of this pack," she begins, and Roman nods encouragingly.

That was a good start! Don't mention heirs, though, or they'll think you're already pregnant or something, he commentates.

"I would like to start by thanking each and every single one of you for your continued support over the past six months, especially in the days leading up to my trial. You are an amazing pack, and I am blessed to have you be mine," she announces, and Roman frowns slightly.

It sounds like you're quitting, Roman warns her.

Judging by the startled and anxious faces he can see in the crowd, some of the pack members, particularly hers, are thinking the same.

She nudges him to continue.

"I would like to thank my own pack, also. You have trusted my ability to lead, and it has been a pleasure to watch you grow and expand as we have over the past number of years," he quickly states, rubbing his jaw anxiously.

Now who sounds like they're quitting, she mocks him gently.

"Today, on this very, very cold day, we would like to announce a union," Avery says after a moment, and she can hear a lot of confused muttering.

A second Alpha usually wouldn't be present for an announcement of a peace treaty.

It wouldn't even usually require a meeting, especially not of two packs - it would typically be a footnote at the end of a meeting.

Avery reaches up to her scarf, and as she exchanges a look with Roman, she tugs the scarf off.

He unbuttons his top two buttons of his shirt, laying the top of it open.

They turn back to face their packs, slowly joining hands.

They wait with bated breath for this to sink in before they try and impart any more information on their packs.

The rows closest to them realise what's happening first, their eyes zoning on the matching marks on each of the Alpha's necks.

The ones who can see them clap their hands over their mouths, gasping as they realise what this means.

Most of the crowd gathered there doesn't seem to notice the marks, so Avery glances at Roman nervously.

"We're officially mated," she announces calmly, trying her best not to stutter.

The crowd is completely silent for a moment.

Oh shit, we screwed up. Do they not like him? Do they think we're making a mistake?, Sonya waffles anxiously.

People gradually begin to clap, but most of the crowd still seems to be entirely confused and lost.

It is a big announcement, Avery supposes.

She takes a shaky inhale, and Roman kisses her forehead quickly, their first show of affection in front of the pack.

And hopefully the last, I don't want anyone to throw up, Sonya grumbles.

"What does this mean for the packs?" One man shouts from where he stands, and Avery looks to Roman.

He's the one who devised this strange plan, so she'll leave it to him to try to make it make sense for their people.

"We're going to be carving out a land bridge under agreement from our allies. We will be installing a high-speed train system, like the packs in Asia frequently use, which will allow for travel between the two packs to be cut down to three hours each way. For now, pack territories will remain the same, although we will be sharing land, so it will essentially become one big pack," he explains, and Avery can see eyebrows raising.

That was her reaction when she heard this scheme for the first time, so she allowed for it with no issues.

"How are you two mated? Was it a choice?" One woman asks abruptly, completely ignoring the most recent question.

"We are both Unfortunates. It was technically choice," Avery nods, glancing at Roman.

Do you want to try to explain the scientist?, she asks him, and he grimaces.

No, let's stay with choice for now. We can get the scientist himself to come and explain it, he decides after a moment.

I like that plan; I don't think I can remember half of the stuff he said to us, she chuckles, sending him a smile.

"Does anybody have any objections to this mating?" Avery asks, straightening up.

Roman grips her hand a little tighter as they gaze around the area, the crowd going into the trees.

Nobody says a word, and Roman relaxes a little.

"Okay, then. Thank you all for coming," Avery smiles, squeezing Roman's hand as tightly as she can as they slowly turn to walk off the stage.

Thunderous applause breaks out suddenly, slightly scaring Avery.

A blush crawls up Roman's neck as he turns to stare at the crowd, his eyes lighting up happily.

He looks down at Avery, who looks like a child on Christmas day, a grin spreading across her face.

"We've got this," he whispers, and she smiles up at him happily.

"Hell yes we do," she responds, leaning up and kissing him gently.